Torpedo control by multiple channel selector



Dac., 24, 1946. E, 5 PURINGTQN 2,413,066

TORPEDO CONTROL BY MULTIPLE CHANNEL SELECTOR Filed NOV. 6, 1935 INVENTOR ELUSO'N S. PURlNGTON /wif i MMM@ ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 24, 1946 TORPEDO CONTROL BY MULTIPLE CHANNEL SELECTOR Ellison S. Purington, Gloucester,l Mass., assigner to United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy Application November 6, 19375, Serial No. 48,582

4 claims. 1

This invention relates to the control of moving bodies from a distance, and more particularly to a new and improved means for preventing respOnse in this control from other than the desired source.

'I'he invention relates particularly to a selective receiving system for radiant energy which is adapted to control the movement of a torpedo after it has been launched. The steering means of the torpedo is rendered operative in response to radiant impulses transmitted from a distance and selectively effects the deviation of the torpedo to port or starboard or maintains the steering means in a central position.

The invention further provides a selective system of radio control which is dependent in its operation upon the use of two high frequency signais or a single high frequency modulated at two low frequencies. These signals operate the system so that when one is received the torpedo will be caused to steer to the left, and when the other is received it will be steered to the right.

The invention also consists in certain new and original features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and advantages, the mode of its operation and the manner of its organization may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof, in which the single figure of the drawing illustrates diagramma-tically the invention as applied to the control of moving bodies.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawing, a radio receiver I is provided which may be of any suitable construction but is here shown as consisting of a space discharge ampliiler II, the input circuit of which includes an inductance I2, and the secondary of a transformer I3. The inductance I2 is adjustably connected to an antenna I4. The primary of the transformer I3 is connected through a switch I5 to a source of oscillations IB. The receiver I0 may include any desired number of stages of radio and audio frequency amplification.

The output circuit of the amplifier II includes the primary of a transformer I1, the secondary of which is connected to the input circuit of the space discharge amplifier I8. The output circuit of the amplifier I8 includes a resistance and condenser I9, and two tuned circuits 2l and 22, comprising the primaries of two transformers 23 Sii and 24, and two condensers 25 and 26. The secondaries of the transformers 23 and 24 are connected in the filament circuits of two space discharge devices 21 and 28, and also by wires 50, Si to two resistances 28 and 30 and by wires t2, it to the grids of two space discharge devices 3i and 32. The output circuits of these devices include a double solenoid consisting of two windings 33 and 34 connected to the anodes of tubes 3i and 32 by wires 84 and 65, respectively, and two batteries 35 and 36. The point between these batteries is connected to the plates and grids of the devices 21 and 28 by wire 86.

The double solenoid 23 and 34 is provided with a central magnetic core 38, one end of which is secured to the stem of a valve 4I which is mounted for reciprocation in a valve casing 42. SeM cured to the stem of the valve 4I are two collars 43 and 44, between which and the casing 42 are two spiral springs 45 and 46. The valve casing 42 is provided with three ports 41, 48, and 49 which communicate with a source of fluid under pressure 5I, and the two ends of a cylinder 52 respectively. The cylinder 52 is provided with a piston 53 which is normally held in a central position by means of two spiral springs 54 and 55. The piston 53 is connected by a piston rod 56 to a link 51, the other end of which is connected to an arm 58 for operating the rudder 59.

This system may be operated in either one of two ways. First, by the use of two high frequency waves, such for example as 203,500 cycles and 205,000 cycles. In this case, the oscillator l could be used to produce oscillations of a third frequency, such for example as 200,000 cycles.

' The switch I5 would then be closed, and when one wave, such for example as the 205,000 cycle came in, it would be heterodyned with 200,000 cycles of the oscillator I6, to produce 5,000 cycles which would be impressed upon the input circuit of the amplifierI II. The output from this amplifier would then pass through the transformer i1, and be amplified by the amplifier I8. The output of this amplifier then causes oscillations ci 5,000 cycle frequency to be produced in the tuned circuit 22, which is tuned to this frequency. The energy from this circuit then passes through the transformer 24 to the filament of the device 28 which is thereby heated sufilciently to cause current to flow from the battery 36, through wire 66 and the anode and grid of tube 2S to the nia ment of this device and thence through wir, the resistance 30, battery 61 and battery to battery 36. The iiow through resistance 30 is in the direction of the arrow, thus producing a pm asiaocc f tential difference across this resistance, which opposes the biasing voltage on the grid of the device 32, thus making this grid positive, which a1- lows current to ow through the device 32, batteries 68, 36 and 35, solenoid 34 and wire 65, thus energizing the solenoid winding 34. This causes the core 3B to be moved downwardly, thus moving the valve 4I in a like direction, so that the supply port 41 is connected to the port 49, which allows fluid under pressure to pass from the source I to the lower end of the cylinder 52, which causes the piston 53 to be moved upwardly, thus rotating the rudder 59 in a clockwise direction, which causes the torpedo to be steered to portk When the signal ceases, the lament of the device 28 will cool down, thereby stopping the ow of current through the resistance 30, so that the normal bias will be again produced on the grid of the device 32, thereby stopping the ilow of current through the solenoid winding 34. The valve 4I will then be returned to its central position, under the action of the springs 45 and 45, thus connecting both ends of the cylinders 52 to the atmosphere. The piston 53, together with the rudder 59, will then be brought back to a central position under the action of the springs 54 and 55.

If a wave of 203,500 cycles is received, it will be heterodyned'with the 200,000 cycles of the 0sciilator I6, to produce 3,500 cycles in the input circuit of the amplier II. This will then be amplifled by this device and the amplier I8. The output of the latter will then cause oscillations of 3,500 cycles to be produced in the tuned circuit 2I which is tuned to this frequency. This will cause current to flow through the resistance 29 in the direction of the arrow which will give rise to a positive potential that is impressed upon the grid of tube 3I, which will cause tube 3I to pass current and so energize the solenoid winding 33 in a manner similar to that already described. This will cause the valve 4I to be moved upwardly, thus allowing iluid under pressure to. enter the upper end of the cylinder 52, causing the rudder 59 to be moved in a counterclockwise direction, thus steering the torpedo to starboard. It is thus seen that when a 205,000 cycle wave is sent, the torpedo will be steered to port and will continue to turn in this direction as long as this signal is transmitted. At the termination of this signal, the torpedo will then proceed on the course on which it is headed at that time. If a 203,500 cycle Wave is sent, the torpedo will be steered to starboard and will continue to so turn until the termination of this impulse.

The other method of operation is by the use of a carrier wave, such for example as one of 200,000 cycles modulated at 3,500 or 5,000 cycles. When this system is used, the switch I5 is open. The modulated waves are received by the antenna I4 and are amplified by the amplifiers II and I8, producing oscillations of 3,500 or 5,000 cycles in the output circuit of the latter device. When the wave modulated at 5,000 cycles is received, currents of this frequency will be set up in the tuned circuit 22, thereby causing the energization of the solenoid 34, which in turn will cause the rudder 59 to be moved in a clockwise direction, in a manner already described. When the wave modulated at 3,500 cycles is received it will cause currents to ow in the tuned circuit 2 I, thereby energizing the solenoid 33, and causing the rudder 59 to be turned in a counterclockwise direction. The resistance and condenser lunit I 9 is used to limit the output of the amplier I8 so that the laments of the devices and 28 will not become overloaded due to excessive current.

Although only a single form in which this invention may be embodied has been shown herein, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to any specic construction, but might be embodied in various forms without departing from thespirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A system for controlling the operation of dirigible bodies at a distance by radiant energy, comprising the combination with a steering mechanism, of a means responsive to radiant energy at a distance, two circuits tuned to different frequencies and connected to be energized by response of said means to received energy, two primary space discharge devices, the heating elements of which are coupled to be energized by the outputs of said tuned circuits, two resistances through which pass in opposite directions currents controlled by 'said two primary space discharge devices, two secondary space discharge devices, each secondary device having a grid connected to be controlled by the potentials built up across said resistances, and a control device operated by the outputs of said secondary space discharge devices connected to actuate said steering mechanism.

2. In a remote control system, a means for receiving and amplifying radiant energy of more than one frequency, a plurality of circuits tuned to said frequencies and connected to be energized in response to received energy, a plurality of primary space discharge devices, the heating elements of which are energized from said tuned circuits, a plurality of resistances through which ilow currents controlled by said primary space discharge devices, -a plurality of secondary space discharge devices having control elements, the potentials on which are determined by the currents flowing through said resistances, a control device operated by the outputs of said secondary space discharge devices, and a steering mechanism operated by said control device.

3. In a remote control for a mobile body, apparatus carried by said body comprising receiving means responsive to radiant energy and including a vacuum tube and an input circuit therefor, means to impress a modulating voltage on said input, an amplifying vacuum tube and input and output circuits connected thereto, said output circuit including two circuits tuned to dierent frequencies, means coupling the output of said receiving means to the input of said amplifying tube, two control vacuum tubes each having a filament respectively connected to be energized by one of said tuned circuits and an anode, a common supply to the anodes of said control vacuum tubes, two operating vacuum tubes each having a filament, a grid and an anode, two resistances each having an end respectively connected to the iilament of a control vacuum tube and to the grid oi an operating vacuum tube and having their other ends connected in common to the filaments of said operating tubes, a coil, means connecting each end of said coil to the anode of one operating vacuum tube, means connecting the midpoint of said coil to the filaments of said operating vacuum tubes, a core movable in said coil and steering mechanism control means operatively connected to said core.

4. In a remote control for a mobile body, ap-

paratus carried by said body comprising receiving means responsive to radiant energy and includins a. vacuum tube and an input circuit thereior, an amplifying vacuum tube and input and output circuits connected thereto, said output circuit including two circuits tuned to different fre quencies, means coupling the output of said receiving means to the input of said amplifying tube, two control vacuum tubes each having a iilament respectively connected to be energized by one of said tuned circuits and an anode, s common supply to the anodesot said control vacuum tubes, two operating vacuum tubes each having l filament, s. grid and an anode, two resistances each having an end respectively connected to the lament of a control vacuum tube and to the grid of an operating vacuum tube and having their other ends connected in common to the moments of said operating tubes, s coil, means connecting each end of said coil to the anode of one operating vacuum tube. means connecting the midpoint of said coil to the filaments of said operating vaciI uum tubes, and a. core movable in said coil.

ELLISON 8. PURINGTON. 

